WELL SAID! The true Bride does not look nor act like the wolves in sheeps clothing. The survey that will ultimately matter the most I am afraid will have a headline like "Percentage of professing Christians going to hell is almost equal to non-Christians going to hell."

Where (or what group) did the survey.

comment was removed by user

I agree with Chris P. This speaks more of the world’s definition of a Christian than what it says about marriage. Also, not considered in these polls are those who live together outside of marriage. If they were to be counted along with their break-ups we would see a major difference in the results.

As additional weight to John's perspective, if you look at the questions that are asked to determine whether someone is a Christian, they demonstrate that many of the respondants don't believe Jesus is the only way, don't believe in hell, and many other things that cause us to question the validity of their profession.

I believe this was a Barna poll. He's heavily into the church growth gobbledygook.

This is so true. I didn't question that survey when I heard it but now I see how that can not be. I have a very strong Christian friend that recently was contemplating divorce because of her husbands problem with pornography. We talked it through and she, as a christian woman decided to treat her husband as a non-believer because of this sin in his life. And others that make it quite obvious where he is. It hasn't been easy for her but she loves God and is serving him through this. Divorce should be so far from the mind of a believer it is barely an option. It is an amazing thing to see God strengthen her in these trials. It is sad that I and so many other people would not question that survey more quickly. I think my pastor may have even used that data from the pulpit. Thank you for pointing out such a distortion of the truth.

Respectfully, if Dr. MacArthur is quoting this exchange as it happened, then it is quite possible he gave this reporter the perfect opportunity to publish yet another piece with the headline "Christians don't believe facts."

Why not offer up some of the same distinctions to the reporter as he did to the surveyer about the difference between those who self identify as Christians, and those whom Christ identifies as Christians, and how that difference will manifest itself in this issue? And about the real problem not being a high rate of divorce among so-called Christians, but a high rate of people thinking they are Christians who really aren't. That were the statistics true, then yes, God is dishonored and the church should be ashamed. But if they're not true, because a lot of the people who self-identify as Christians when they aren't, God is dishonored even more by churches who produce whole congregations of people who think they belong to Him when they don't.

Yes, that would still indicate that the survey was flawed, and he'd still get angry letters from them, not to mention from all the divorced self-identifying Christians. But at least that would keep the argument in the right place, rather than giving yet another probably unsaved reporter grist for the "Christians choose blind faith over facts" mill.

(Of course, it's totally possible that he did say all those things, but the way the exchange is quote that's not what it seems.)

Talk about an urban legend with legs, this statistic is almost universal accepted as fact. But as usual, Dr MacArthur is right on - if it were possible to get the data for those couples truly born again, the rate of divorce would be minuscule.

Rachael,

I'm not sure this is verbatim how the conversation went. I've heard John mention this occasion a couple times and he has said it differently. It's possible that this is the "official" transcript, but I don't think it is.

Polls smolls. I suppose polls can be accurate, but I don't trust them, because I don't trust man, because I know me, and I know the Bible.

I would think the divorce rate in the Body of Christ today is higher then in years past, but who knows for sure. How can we ever judge such a thing anyway.

I agree with Rachael: "God is dishonored even more by churches who produce whole congregations of people who think they belong to Him when they don't. "
There are mega bloated congregations today, who don't know the gospel, but a moral-nice Christianity. Sad. I watched joel Osteen last night and what a sad thing to see all these people sitting and listening to the empty words, and giving millions of dollars to this absurdity. Are all these people Christans? Are some of them? I wonder what would happen if Paul Waher was allowed to preach the gospel in Joel's church one night? Boy, I wish I could see that. That would be a good way to take a poll.

Should have been: Pastor Paul Washer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6XJkNlAk9c

Thank you for posting this! I have heard the same thing and don't believe it myself, even more now! The true church should make this clear to the world and the "church" that not only in marriage but also in conversion and behavior of the "Christian" there needs to be a clear biblical understanding of what it means to be Christian!

Brother Sands, Paul Washer's brand of preaching would probably incite a riot. People don't like being confronted with the Truth of the Gospel. It's like feeding vegetables to a child who has grown up on nothing but candy. Sure, the false teaching or watered down Gospel may be palatable and friendly, but it's not good for you.

Quote: Respectfully, if Dr. MacArthur is quoting this exchange as it happened, then it is quite possible he gave this reporter the perfect opportunity to publish yet another piece with the headline "Christians don't believe facts." EndQuote

Should we be concerned what this pollster thinks, or for that matter, what the world thinks? Are we accountable to them? Are we men pleasers? The world will believe what they want to believe about us, whether it is based in fact or not.

The world is at enmity with God. Therefore, the world is at enmity with His church. It didn't really matter what John MacArthur replied to the reporter, as long as John disagreed, the pollster would have had a negative response. First, because if he is not born again, his heart is still at war with his Creator. Unless his heart is transformed by God's Holy Spirit, he will hate God. Second, in his estimation, his integrity was put into question, whether it was or not. Maybe it should have been. The truth has a way of riling people. What was his real motive for doing such a poll? God knows. I have a hint that I my know, too. And then again, maybe not. God knows.
Polls are no better than the way the questions are formed. Most polls are biased. In truth, maybe all polls are biased. How can you trust a poll made by an individual whose heart is not right with God? Remember, with the case of this pollster, if he is unsaved, his spiritual father is the god of this age..."the father of lies."

John MacArthur, you could have been as vague and contradictory in your answers as is Joel Osteen on Larry King's show. Shame on you for not learning from the master of ignorance, confusion, and deceit. Maybe the world would learn to love you, too.
Not!

I agree with most of what was said. Many consider themselves to be "christian" but actually are not. For that reason, I too would be hesitant to think the divorce rate is the same base upon the poll.
But I do have issue with the statement that the poll raises questions regarding God having no power in marriage. In a sense, this puts all the responsibility on God to make a marriage successful. And if that's the case, God would then have to control every believer's will.
I believe whole-heartedly in the power of God to deliver. But I also believe in Jesus' words, "be it to you as you have believed."
While we can argue that we don't believe the divorce rate is 50%, we have to ask ourselves, "If God's power extends to marriages, why are there any divorces at all?" Again, the scripture points to the fact that we as believers have a part to play as well. For example: Jesus couldn't do many might works in His home town even though He had the power to do so. Why? Becaus the people didn't believe - Matt 13:53-58. It's not God's will that people should perish (2 Pe 3:9) and His power to save is available every day. Yet people still die in their sins.
God has done His part. He has outlined principles for a success marriage in His word. Like the law of gravity, these principles do not have a respect for individuals. Obey the principle and you succeed. Disobey and you fail.
If we really want to see the power of God in our marriages, then we have to become doers and not just hearers of the word, deceiving our ownselves (James 1:22).